Orpheus

The male first name Orpheus, also known as Orpheús (Ὀρφεύς), has its origins in Greek mythology.

What does the name Orpheus mean?

Orpheus, or Orpheús (Ὀρφεύς), is a name that originates from Greek mythology. Translated, it means 'the Dark One' or 'the Gloomy One.' This meaning derives from the ancient Greek term orphne (ὄρφνη), which means 'darkness of the night.' In mythology, Orpheus was a gifted poet, musician, and singer who lost his wife Eurydice. He turned to Hades, the god of the underworld, asking to bring Eurydice back. Hades agreed, but Orpheus was not allowed to look back at her on the way back to Earth. Just as he was about to retrieve her, he turned around in eager anticipation, which caused her to vanish. Other variants of the name include Orfeo and Orfeas.

Where does the name Orpheus come from?

The name Orpheus has ancient Greek roots and means 'the Dark One.' It is derived from the ancient Greek word orphne (ὄρφνη), which means 'the darkness of the night.'

How do you pronounce Orpheus?

Or-fe-us

Popularity

In Germany, Orpheus is a rather rare first name. In 2019, it ranked 3,920th among the most common male baby names. The best ranking the name achieved was in 2013, at 3,619th place. In the last ten years, Orpheus has been given less than 10 times, which places it at 8,008th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 7,742nd.

Famous people

• Orpheus (Most famous singer in Greek mythology)
• Orpheus Roye (American football player)
• Orpheus Spiliotopoulos (Greek television presenter)